Andrew Lloyd Webber stirs up Denise Van Outen's pregnancy 'sacking' claim
The BBC denies it, but music producer hints that pregnancy may have been one of the axe factors in Denise Van Outen losing her judging spot
When the news broke that young celeb mum Charlotte Church, 24, was to replace mum-to-be Denise Van Outen as the TV judge on the show Over the Rainbow, eyebrows were raised as to whether Denise’s pregnancy played a part in the decision.
However, despite the BBC denying the claims, theatre musical producer Andrew Lloyd Webber has fuelled the rumours once again, admitting that Denise’s pregnancy may have played a part in her not being rehired.
“The truth is she is having a baby,” Andrew told the Sunday Mirror. “I wish her the absolute best but we have to think of our girls on the show. It wouldn't be fair on the girls if we had to draft somebody in for three shows who hadn't been working with them."
Earlier this week, 62-year-old Andrew insisted that it wasn’t his decision as to who took to the panel and believed that the show would be great to “start afresh”. Denise hit out after learning she wasn’t going to part of the new show, saying she was disappointed.
“It’s a show that I’m passionate about and, after all, it’s through the show that I met my husband and I’m becoming a mum. I am disappointed not to be a part of it,” she told the Daily Mail. She even offered to name her baby after the shows leading lady! “I told him that if I could do the show, I’d call the baby Dorothy.”
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Denise is due to give birth in May to a daughter, with her hubby Lee Mead, and launched her maternity range, DVO, last week in London.
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